Huge Trade Announcement: Tampa Bay Rays Acquire Nelson Cruz from Twins

 

His name has been out there for weeks, as perhaps the biggest bat available on the trade market. The Tampa Bay Rays have won the sweepstakes, landing their "big fish", trading for Nelson Cruz of the Minnesota Twins.

BREAKING: The Tampa Bay Rays are finalizing a deal to acquire slugger Nelson Cruz from the Minnesota Twins, sources tell ESPN.

— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) July 22, 2021

Cruz will add the one component missing from the Tampa lineup, a massive home run bat, and now makes the Rays a serious threat to upend the Boston Red Sox atop the AL East division. 

Tampa trails Boston by just one game heading into action Thursday night. 

Other teams that had been linked to Cruz included the Oakland A's, Seattle Mariners and Toronto Blue Jays. 

MLB Network's Jim Bowden tells us how he found out the news:

Erik Neander #Rays GM just texted me “Time to get the big fish” as he acquires Nelson Cruz from #Twins. Run .907 OPS with 18 HR 50 RBI in 296 AB with 2.1 War. A leader. A mentor. A winner and the games best eyebrows.

— Jim Bowden⭐️ (@JimBowdenGM) July 22, 2021

Cruz definitely becomes the "biggest fish" in the Rays' lineup. 

He carries a .907 OPS along with 18 HR and 50 RBI with him to Tampa.

Minnesota receives a nice haul in minor league pitchers Joe Ryan and Drew Strotman, who are both nearly major league-ready.  Minor leaguer Calvin Faucher also goes to the Rays. 

Photo Credit: Kamil Krzaczynski-USA TODAY Sports